Solar Eclipse in our Living Room!

I did, but I was too young to document or even photographed it. I remember in grade school that we are advised to wear dark sunglasses and spread ourselves outside to watch a solar eclipse.Then we need to write something about it just how we have seen it. I grew up in South Pacific area where there are notably numbers of Solar eclipses have been visible. It was a great childhood memory.

An eclipse is a natural phenomenon. Nevertheless, in some ancient and modern cultures, solar eclipses have been attributed to supernatural causes or regarded as bad omens. A total solar eclipse can be frightening to people who are unaware of its astronomical explanation, as the Sun seems to disappear during the day and the sky darkens in a matter of minutes.I remember that when I was small, we have stories that monsters appears during Eclipses!!

My husband spent his holidays mostly in Austria. Other than skiing, He just enjoy it there and a pure wanderer. On his vacation, it just happened that He was one fine lucky Dutchie who witnessed the Solar Eclipse in Salzburg, Austria last 1999 among thousands of tourists who flew over just for this event.

This is one of the most-viewed Solar Eclipse in the history !

The DOM in Salzburg where reflection of the sun can be seen during partial eclipse,1999,Salzburg Austria

It was the first total eclipse visible from Europe since 22 July 1990, and the first visible in the United Kingdom since 29 June 1927.It lasted of about 2 minutes and 23 seconds from Romania with the greatest Eclipse point.

The view of the partly hidden sun in the walls of the cathedral. (Photo credits to my awesome Husband for capturing all these photos!)

The solar eclipse was seen in a central part of Europe, such as Southern Germany, Austria and further eastwards.

He chose to be going to Salzburg for that day, knowing that the solar eclipse would be totally 100% visible there, unlike further north and south where the eclipse would be partial. Like many others , He was lucky enough to find a spot on the bleachers in front of the Dom in Salzburg. The bleachers were placed for the annual ‘Festspiele’.

The weather that day started with some drizzle, but the time the eclipse was about to start, the sky was clear.Then the show begins.

1999 Solar Eclipse (Photo credit to one lucky Dutchie)

During the time the eclipse was not yet 100%, it was possible to see the reflection of the partly hidden sun on the Dom, as it was not possible to look directly at this without special glasses, which are like extremely dark sunglasses. During the few minutes the eclipse was 100% is was possible to look at the ” WONDER” of seeing the

Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks (“occults“) the Sun. This can happen only at new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth in an alignment referred to as syzygy. In a total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In partial and annular eclipses, only part of the Sun is obscured.

Only for those who have been so lucky or fortunate to have seen a full solar eclipse can understand why people fly over the world to experience one. Sighs!

Indeed witnessing something as spectacular as this could change your view about astronomy, space, the earth and your own life.

This is indeed one beautiful experience that is just worthy of remembering every now & then. In our new living room now hangs 4 of the fine shots of this wonderful event that would be remembered forever. My husband framed it and now we have a full view of it everyday!

Framed memoirs of a Solar Eclipse ,Salzburg-Austria 1999

Do you like this idea? How do you keep your travel memories alive?

It’s still in my wish list to watch another Solar Eclipse like this with my daughter. I’m sure it’s going to be a great experience as well.

For those who wants to have this kind of experience, The next Solar Eclipse will be on August 21, 2017. The total solar eclipse will be visible from most locations in the United States. This eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse visible from contiguous United States since 1979.

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8 thoughts on “Solar Eclipse in our Living Room!”

I remember viewing the solar eclipse 1999, when I lived near to Vienna. It was a good place for this experience, unforgettable to see the colours become strange first and the shadowy waves running over the ground. Seems to me very artful way of presentation on your living room wall.

I love those photos on your wall!! Solar eclipse in the living room, indeed! 😉 I’ve never watched one properly, but I have a childhood memory of witnessing Halley’s comet in the 1980’s, lying on the backyard’s grass after sunset in Australia. I’ll never forget what it looked like. As a kid, I used to have a poster of it on my wall and was thrilled to have seen it with my own eyes. These are things you’ll remember forever 🙂

That was nice..These type of experiences brings us more closer to reality and the special things about astronomy and being face to face with extraordinary facts about space…totally different from the ones we just read from the books.
I am glad you appreciate it.
Like minds 🙂 Thank you!